The Japan experience with 43 of our 8th Grade students is still marinating, and likely will for some time to come. My own reflections on the trip, on the visible growth and maturation of many of our students, on the benefit of experiencing being “other” as a part of one’s educational journey will likely play out for weeks and months to come. I do look forward to hearing more of the student reflections as they get some distance from the experience and can “look back and reflect” on where they stretched themselves, stepped way outside of their comfort zone and overcame the stress of a language barrier, homesickness, isolation.

Yes, our students stepped outside the classroom for five school days and then part of their break for this excursion, AND the learning and persevering that comes along with this “classroom of a different sort” is not to be underestimated in the list of school experiences where they learn so much about themselves and their world. It’s all still marinating…